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A traditional Dutch windmill overlooks vibrant rows of blooming tulip fields in the Netherlands under a bright blue sky.
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Netherlands

Beauty in Bloom: A Cycle & Barge Adventure in the Netherlands

Program No. 24933RJ
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
All itineraries and excursions are subject to change. Weather and water conditions may affect the progress of the ship, and we may miss ports if it is not safe to dock. The operators reserve the right to change the content and duration of excursions without prior notice and so the cruise itinerary should always be regarded as provisional. Whenever possible, Road Scholar’s published daily schedule will indicate port arrival and departure times. Prior to departure, if there is a major change, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
10 days
9 nights
What's Included
17 meals ( 8B, 1L, 8D )
4 expert-led lectures
15 expert-led field trips
An experienced Group Leader
8 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 44 miles, under 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1/2 mile; generally flat terrain.
Morning:
Upon arrival at the airport, go through passport control, enter the baggage claim area and get your luggage, go through the appropriate customs section, and enter Schiphol Plaza and follow the signs to “Car Rentals.” Look for the Group Leaders with a Road Scholar sign who will be waiting. As soon as everyone on the designated group transfer (for those who purchased airfare through Road Scholar) has arrived, we will board a motorcoach and ride to The Hague. Once we arrive at the hotel, you will be able to check your luggage and take a walk around the city for some time on your own.
Lunch:
On your own in The Hague
Afternoon:
At 1:30 p.m., join your Group Leader for an excursion to the beach and a visit to the Museum Beelden to view the latest contemporary sculpture exhibit. We return to the hotel for check-in. You will have time to relax until you meet your Group Leaders again before dinner for an orientation. Orientation: The Group Leaders, who will be with us throughout the program, will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Educational content will be provided by our knowledgeable Group Leaders and local experts. Whether cycling though scenic countryside, or bustling cities, Road Scholars will gain the skills to navigate local traffic, interact with fellow cyclists, and stay alert for unexpected stops. The included meals onboard as well as the ones at local restaurants will feature local cuisine. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and specified distances or times may be subject to change based on local conditions. Should any changes occur, we will notify you as promptly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner:
In the hotel
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 40 miles, under 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile; flat city terrain. Embarking the barge.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
After breakfast in the hotel, we will take a field trip with a local expert to the inner city of The Hague. The Hague is political heart of the Netherlands, for centuries, it has been the seat of the Dutch government and royal court. The Hague is known as the “City of Peace and Justice,” home to International Court of Justice. We will follow this with a guided visit to The Mauritshuis. The museum is famous for iconic works such as Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring, Rembrandt’s The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp, and paintings by Frans Hals and Jan Steen.
Lunch:
On your own in The Hague
Afternoon:
After lunch, we will board a motorcoach to meet our barge docked in Amsterdam. Once settled onboard, your Captain will review safety protocols onboard the barge and lead crew introductions. As you set sail for Hoorn, your Group Leaders will further brief you about the week's activities before you enjoy your first dinner onboard.
Dinner:
Onboard the barge
Evening:
At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.
Activity Note
Biking 15 miles on flat terrain, primarily on dedicated paved bicycle paths.
Breakfast:
Onboard the barge.
Morning:
Before setting off, we’ll take the time to ensure each bicycle is properly adjusted for a smooth and comfortable ride. We then begin our cycling adventure with an easy, relaxed ride that leads to a small landing, where we’ll secure the bikes and step aboard a small boat to glide through Hoorn’s quiet, historic residential canals. Afterward, we’ll return to our bicycles and continue cycling on to Volendam, known for colorful houses, harbor views, and Dutch traditions.
Lunch:
Lunch is on your own
Afternoon:
Next, we will bicycle back to Haarlem and make a visit to the Teyler’s Museum where a local expert will show us the wonders of its permanent collection of Dutch art and science under one roof since 1784.
Dinner:
Onboard the barge.
Evening:
This evening our local historian will come onboard to give a lecture about the history of The Netherlands.
Activity Note
Biking 18 miles on flat terrain, primarily on dedicated paved bicycle paths.
Breakfast:
Onboard the barge
Morning:
We’ll start our day heading south along the canals. Our first destination is the Cruquius Museum, where a local expert will present the history of this former steam-powered pumping station, operational from 1850 to 1933. We will learn about the technology used to drain the area around Amsterdam that was threatened with flooding in the past.
Lunch:
We’ll enjoy Dutch cuisine at the museum’s Theehuis (Tea House).
Afternoon:
We’ll visit the Frans Hals Museum, home to an outstanding collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings. Afterward, enjoy free time to explore Haarlem’s charming historic center, with its lively Grote Markt, the impressive St. Bavo Church, inviting cafés, and beautifully preserved guild houses.
Dinner:
Onboard the barge
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Biking 23 miles on flat terrain, primarily on dedicated paved bicycle paths.
Breakfast:
Onboard the barge
Morning:
From Haarlem, we will bike to the Keukenhof Gardens. We will already see flowers along the way to the world’s most famous spring garden. Once we enter the park, we will see more than seven million bulbs bloom in springtime, including more than 800 varieties of tulips. While its history dates back to a 15th-century castle, the gardens were redesigned in the 19th century in the English landscape style. It was then configured as a place to exhibit spring-flower bulbs and opened to the public in 1950.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like at Keukenhof.
Afternoon:
We will continue our independent exploration of Keukenhof until mid-afternoon, when we will return by bicycle to our barge which is now docked in Zaandam
Dinner:
Onboard the barge
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 40 miles, approximately 1.5 hours riding time. Walking about 1 mile, approximately 1.5 hours on paved terrain. Getting on/off a canal boat. No biking today. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.
Breakfast:
At a local restaurant following our morning field trip.
Morning:
Today, we’ll have an early start as we travel by motorcoach to Aalsmeer to visit the Netherlands’ largest flower auction. Flowers and plants are sold through a fast-paced online system, with buyers placing real-time bids from around the world, making Aalsmeer a key hub of the global flower trade. Afterwards, we'll enjoy relaxed breakfast in a local restaurant. Then we will head into Amsterdam via canal boat to see this historical city and its canals. This will conclude near the Museumplein where the Rijksmuseum and van Gogh Museum reside. The remainder of the morning and the entirety of the afternoon will be free. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leaders will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.
Lunch:
On your own to enjoy what you like in Amsterdam.
Afternoon:
Free time in Amsterdam will continue. If you make museum reservations, we suggest you do that between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. We will rendezvous at an announced time and place to reboard the motorcoach and return to the barge in the late afternoon which is now docked in Alkmaar.
Dinner:
Onboard the barge
Evening:
We will join a local expert for a walking field trip though Alkmaar.
Activity Note
Biking 27 miles on flat terrain, primarily on dedicated paved bicycle paths.
Breakfast:
Onboard the barge
Morning:
Today’s cycling field trip leads through the dunes around Castricum and Heiloo. These dunes form part of the North Holland Dune Reserve, a nature reserve of 11,800 acres, extending from Wijk aan Zee to Schoorl. While being a lovely cycling area, they also serve as The Netherlands’ natural primary defense system against the North Sea. We will walk on the beach and look out over the North Sea and observe the fishing boats.
Lunch:
On your own at the beach.
Afternoon:
After lunch, we’ll mount our bicycles again, you cycle along bike paths through dunes, forests, and heathland. As the dunes end, the route continues through flat polder countryside before following waterways into Alkmaar’s historic center.
Dinner:
Onboard the barge
Evening:
This evening aboard the barge, we’ll enjoy a lecture from our instructor about the economy of The Netherlands.
Activity Note
Biking 29 miles on flat terrain, primarily on dedicated paved bicycle paths and some city traffic.
Breakfast:
Onboard the barge
Morning:
This field trip to Amsterdam will be on our bicycles. One final time, we’ll ride though the polders and along the lakes and canals. Our midday destination is De Rijp, a former fishing village now surrounded by polders and lakes. In the old days, 25 percent of the world’s herring was caught by ships from this village. Before lunch, a local expert will join us to share insights into the region's nautical history, the influence of the Mennonites, and the unique wooden house still standing at the 'In 'T Houten Huis' Museum.
Lunch:
Lunch on your own
Afternoon:
After lunch, we leave our bicycles behind enjoying views of the Zaanse Schans windmills from the sun deck. As the farms and windmills fade into the distance, Amsterdam gradually emerges, with industrial outlines returning along ever-busier waterways.
Dinner:
Onboard the barge. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.
Evening:
At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and departure in the morning.
Activity Note
Disembarkation by 9:00 a.m. (okay to check out earlier.) See your program’s “Getting There” information regarding transfers.
Breakfast:
Onboard the barge
Morning:
Having docked back in Amsterdam, we will disembark the barge by 9:00 a.m., but you may leave earlier for your flight home. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!